Nozzle for delivering a conic spray pattern

ABSTRACT

A molded spray nozzle consisting of snap-in components for removal to maintain sanitary conditions in pasteurizers, warmers and food processors. The components consist of an outer body having internal tangential lands and grooves for importing a swirl to the fluid flow, and an inner body thimble spaced from the outer body to form an annular space to feed the fluid into the grooves and a dome-shaped bottom wall forming with the tangential lands a fluid swirl chamber. The outer body is formed with an outlet nozzle aligned with the swirl chamber and shaped to direct the spray discharge into a conic pattern having a diameter of appropriate size at the distance desired for optimum delivery of the fluid.

United States Patent [1 1 Huling NOZZLE FOR DELIVERING A CONIC SPRAY PATTERN [75] Inventor: James K. Huling Eelleville, Ill.

[731 A ssignee: Barry-Wehniiller Company, St.

Louis, Mo. 22] Filed: /K6521, i972 [21] Appli No.: 282,386

[ Oct. 2, 1973 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Frederick M. Woodruff et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A molded spray nozzle consisting of snap-in components for removal to maintain sanitary conditions in pasteurizers, warmers and food processors. The components consist of an outer body having internal tangential lands and grooves for importing a swirl to the fluid flow, and an inner body thimble spaced from the outer body to form an annular space to feed the fluid into the grooves and a dome-shaped bottom wall forming with the tangential lands a fluid swirl chamber. The outer body is formed with an outlet nozzle aligned with the swirl chamber and shaped to direct the spray discharge into a conic pattern having a diameter of appropriate size at the distance desired for optimum delivery of the fluid.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing; Figures J l H PATENIEDnm 2mm SHEET 1 or 5 FIGJ NOZZLE FOR DELIVERING A CONIC SPRAY PATTERN BRIEF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in the construction and operation of a molded spray nozzle for developing a better spray pattern for pasteurizers, warmers and food processors.

The problem with present nozzles is that they fail to deliver a full spray and they are not capable of being easily dismantled for cleaning. As a consequence, these nozzles develop biological fouling conditions, and the lop-sided spray is inefficient and consumes excessive fluid or retards the passage of the product in order to effectively bathe the product as completely as required.

The principal objects of thisinvention are to provide a unique snap-in assembly capable of controlling the supply of fluid under pressure, to provide a conic pattern for the spray of fluid, to provide a sanitary nozzle assembly which may be taken apart for cleaning, and to provide a nozzle assembly that avoids biological fouling over long periods of use.

A presently preferred embodiment consists of a molded cylindrical outer body open at one end and having a nozzle orifice at the opposite end, tangential lands and grooves formed interiorily of the outer body adjacent the nozzle orifice, an inner thimble body spaced from the outer body and formed with a domeshaped bottom wall forming with the tangential'lands and grooves an efficient fluid swirl chamber to deliver the fluid through the nozzle orifice in a cone-shaped spray. The assembly may be provided with snap or twist-off cap to effectively seal the interior of the thimble body and act to retain the thimble body against displacement under the pressure of the forced delivery of the spray fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is a plan view of the outer body of the nozzle seen along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of the inner thimble body adapted to be employed in the outer body 7 of FIG. 1;

FIG, 4 is a'perspective view of the thimble body as izers of food products, food warmers and similar processors.

In the embodiment of FIGS. I and 2 the outer molded body 10 is generally cylindrical but with a slight mold draft or taper from its open end 11 to its outlet orifice 12. A fluid inlet connection tube 13 is integrally formed on the body 10 to open to the interior below the open end 1]. The open end 11 is formed with a stepped flange providing an annular seat surface 14 and inwardly projecting annular rib I5 is formed around the inner surface of the end 11 and spaced above the seat surface 14. Interiorily of the lower portion of the body 10 are a plurality of lands l6 spaced apart to form tangentially directed fluid grooves 17. Each land 16 has an axially directed upper portion defining axialportions for the grooves 17, while the bottom portions of the lands 16 are tapered to form triangular land portions extending angularly inwardly and terminating at the floor 18 of the body 10 in a circular configuration exemplified by the phantom circle 19. Thus, each groove 17 has an upper axially directed portion and a lower angularly slanted portion directed tangentially of the throat 20-of the outlet orifice 12.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the inner thimble body 21 of molded construction to provide a continuous cylindrical and slightly tapered wall having a transverse bottom wall 22 that is dome shaped to provide an upwardly directed recess 23. The upper end of the body 21 is formed with an enlarged axial flange 24 surrounded with an annular radially directed lip 240. As shown, the interior of the thimble body 21 is imperforate and its longitudinal wall has a smaller diameter than the wall of body 10 so that when inserted :in the outer body 10 it is spaced (FIG. 1) from the interior wall of the body 10 to define an annular chamber 26 for the fluid.

The assembly of the components of FIGS. 1 and 3 is seen in FIG. 5 and the various structural features therein have been designated by the heretofore noted reference numerals. As assembled, the thimble body 21 is spaced from the outer body 10 to form the fluid receiving annular chamber 26 which is dead-ended under the upper lip 25. The fluid supply conduit 27 is secured in the tube 13 by forming beads in the tube 13 so that a secure seal is made when the conduit 27 is pressfitted. An alternate attachment is to use a set screw, shown in phantom at 28. The fluid passes downwardly into th'eaxial portions of the several grooves 17 and seen upside down to better show the details of its form;

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view of the spray nozzle'with the components assembled and connected to a fluid supply conduit; I

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a snap-on cover for the assembly of FIG. 4 j

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view of a modified embodiment of the spray nozzle assembly provided with a twist-off cap;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outer body and cap holding lugs for the assembly of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a further modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The nozzle assembly of this invention is adapted to i provide cost savings and deliver a more efficient and better cone configuration of spray of fluid for-pasteurthen into the slanted and tangentially. directed groove portions. The fluid thus directed strikes the floor 18 of .the outer body 10 and forms a swirling pattern in the chamber 29 under the dome-shaped space 23.

The dome-shaped space 23 is formed with a plurality of radially directed vanes 25 which act to alter the swirling pattern sufficiently to cause the fluid to issue through the throat 20 of the orifice 12 in a solid conic spray pattern. It is believed that the swirling fluid under the dome 23 and vanes 25 causes the fluid to follow the surfaces of the orifice throat and flare out into a semisolid spray cone, but by employing the vanes 25, the fluid in the dome space 23 is interrupted and imposes a swirl retarding effect in thecentral area of the spray so that the spray is a solid cone.

The angle of spread of the spray pattern may be altered by the position of the bottom of the thimble 21 relative to the floor 18 of the outer body 10. By selecting the depth of insertion of the thimble 21 into the body 10 the angle of the spray cone can be regulated as desired. The position shown in the view of FIG. 4 produces a wide angle cone that is substantially solid. The thimble body 21 is retained in the outer body by the radial lip 24a being snapped under the annular rib in the open end of the body. This assembly effects a seal and holds the thimble 21 in place against the pressure of the incoming fluid. The interior of the thimble body 21 may be kept clean and clear of fluid collection by a snap-out cover 30, seen in FIG. 6. The cover 30 is provided with an axial rim 31 that is pressfitted into the annular space between the body end 11 and the thimble flange 24a, with the lip portion of the rim engaged inwardly of the annular rib 15, as shown in FIG. 5.

The modification seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 consists of the outer body 31 having spaced radial lugs 32 at its upper open end. The lower end is formed with an axial orifice 33 having a cylindrical throat 34 and a cone portion 35. The interior of body 31 is formed with a plurality of lands 36 and grooves 37 of the configuration heretofore described in FIGS. 1 and 2. Fluid under pressure is supplied at the tube 38. The inner thimble body 39 (modified from body 21) is formed with a radially flanged upper end 40 which fits into and engages the wall of the body 31 above the inlet tube 38 but below the outer open end of body 31. A cap 41 is disposed with its inner axial flange 42 pressed against the thimble flange or lip 40 to form a seal at this junction. The cap is formed with an outer axial flange 43 that is interrupted at spaced places matching the spacing and size of the lugs 32, in known manner. After positioning the cap over the several lugs 32 it may be twisted so that the radially inwardly directed lips 44 pass under the lugs 32 to secure the cap 41 in its sealed position.

The view of FIG. 7 is of a modified nozzle assembly in which the thimble 39 has the dome shaped bottom end wall 45 but no fins of the character seen in FIG. 4. The spray configuration from the nozzle of FIG. 7 is generally a hollow cone with a wide angle of spread. When, however, the thimble dome is spaced farther from the bottom orifice 33 the cone angle decreases and the spray becomes more full. Thus, the nozzle thimble configurations of FIGS. 4 and 7 provide a range of angles of the spray pattern and fullness of the pattern. This is especially good in connection with the delivery of heated fluid for pasteurization.

The nozzle assemblies are preferrably molded of plastic material, such as polypropylene or Celcon, a plastic material of the Celanese Corp. In molding the bodies a slight draft angle is effected for release from the molds. The lands are preferably six in number, and the slope of the tangential directed portions of the lands is about 30 to the floor of the outer body. The dome wall of the thimble bottom is directed at an angle of from to and preferably at an angle of 21 to 23. With these characteristics of form or shape, and with the cone-shaped portion of the orifice at an angle of about a desired spray pattern can be caused to issue. The delivery of fluid may be made to occur in a desired diameter of about 7 inches at a distance of about 12 inches from the orifice.

The use of plastic material and the snap-together construction permits disassembly of the cap and thimble for thorough cleaning, thereby making it easy to avoid biological fouling. The spray pattern delivered from the assembly may be varied by varying the length of the thimble, which is another way of controlling the depth of the thimble penetration, so that the domeshaped bottom wall is spaced from the floor of the outer body more or less from that shown in the several views of the drawings.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 7 but differs only in that the orifice 33 receives a replaceable nozzle insert 46 which will produce a desired spray discharge for increasing or decreasing the size of the cone discharge and its effective delivery distance.

When the inner thimble body is to be removed from the outer body a suitable probe may be inserted through the orifice throat to engage and push against the dome-shaped wall of the thimble. 1

The foregoing description has set forth the characteristics of the several components of the improved nozzle assembly, as well as its function to deliver a desired fullness and spread of the spray. It is, therefore, not the aim of this disclosure to be limited to the precise form and construction set forth herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid discharge nozzle for delivery of a conically shaped spray consisting of an outer hollow body having a fluid emission orifice opening from one end, a plurality of raised lands spaced about the hollow body inte rior adjacent said emission orifice, said lands defining grooves therebetween and said grooves having portions directed generally tangentially toward said emission orifice, a thimble body disposed within said hollow body and having a transverse wall spaced from said emission orifice to form a fluid swirl chamber for the fluid, said thimble body having a side wall spaced from the interior of said hollow body by engaging on said lands thereby forming an annular chamber for reception of the fluid, means to supply fluid into said annular chamber through said hollow body, and means retaining said thimble body within said hollow body against displacement by the fluid pressure.

2. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim I wherein said thimble transverse wall is dome shaped upwardly away from said emission orifice.

3. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said thimble transverse wall is conically shaped with its conic wall directed away from said emission orifice at an angle of from 20 to 25.

4. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said raised lands have portions defining a generally cylindrical seat, and said thimble body having a generally cylindrical side wall slidably engaged on said cylindrical land portions to maintain said annular chamber. 4 5. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means for said thimble body consists in a stepped flange on said hollow body providing an annular seat surface, an annular rib formed within said stepped flange in spaced relation from said seat surface, and a flange on said thimble body sized to snap past said annular rib and be retained by said rib on said annular seat surface.

6. A fluid discharge nozzle for delivery of a conically shaped spray consisting of an outer hollow body having a generally cylindrical side wall open at one end and having a floor at the opposite end, a fluid emission orifice opening outwardly through said floor, a plurality of circumferentially spaced land surfaces formed on the interior of said hollow body and having portions parallel with said cylindrical wall and portions slanted inwardly tangentially toward said emission orifice, said lands defining a plurality of grooves for the flow of the fluid over said floor in a swirling pattern, a thimble body having a generally cylindrical side wall slidably received adjacent said parallel land surface portions and maintained thereby spaced from said hollow body side wall, said thimble body having an end wall formed with slanted surfaces substantially matching said slanted land portions and a dome-shaped wall portion directed away from said hollow body floor to form with said floor a fluid swirl chamber adjacent said emission orifice, an annular lip on said thimble body seated within said open end of said hollow body, means on said open end of said hollow body retaining said thimble body within said hollow body against the pressure of the fluid, and fluid supply means on said hollow body opening through said side wall into the space between said hollow body and thimble body.

7. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 3 wherein said thimble transverse wall is conically shaped with its conic wall directed away from said emission orifiee at an angle of from 20 to 25.

8. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 6 wherein said means retaining said thimble body in said hollow body consists of lugs 0n the exterior of said hollow body and cap means removably engaged with said lugs, said cap means having an axially directed rib projecting into said hollow body to engage on said thimble body adjacent said annular lip.

9. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 6 wherein said fluid supply means consists of a tubular portion on said outer hollow body having an interior wall formed with at least one circumferential bead extending radially inwardly, and a fluid conducting means pressed into said tubular portion passed said circumferential bead.

10. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 6 wherein said thimble dome-shaped wall is provided with fin means to disturb the fluid swirl'and cause issue of a full body of spray. 

1. A fluid discharge nozzle for delivery of a conically shaped spray consisting of an outer hollow body having a fluid emission orifice opening from one end, a plurality of raised lands spaced about the hollow body interior adjacent said emission orifice, said lands defining grooves therebetween and said grooves having portions directed generally tangentially toward said emission orifice, a thimble body disposed within said hollow body and having a transverse wall spaced from said emission orifice to form a fluid swirl chamber for the fluid, said thimble body having a side wall spaced from the interior of said hollow body by engaging on said lands thereby forming an annular chamber for reception of the fluid, means to supply fluid into said annular chamber through said hollow body, and means retaining said thimble body within said hollow body against displacement by the fluid pressure.
 2. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said thimble transverse wall is dome shaped upwardly away from said emission orifice.
 3. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said thimble transverse wall is conically shaped with its conic wall directed away from said emission orifice at an angle of from 20* to 25*.
 4. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said raised lands have portions defining a generally cylindrical seat, and said thimble body having a generally cylindrical side wall slidably engaged on said cylindrical land portions to maintain said annular chamber.
 5. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means for said thimble body consists in a stepped flange on said hollow body providing an annular seat surface, an annular rib formed within said stepped flange in spaced relation from said seat surface, and a flange on said thimble body sized to snap past said annular rib and be retained by said rib on said annular seat surface.
 6. A fluid discharge nozzle for delivery of a conically shaped spray consisting of an outer hollow body having a generally cylindrical side wall open at one end and having a floor at the opposite end, a fluid emission orifice opening outwardly through said floor, a plurality of circumferentially spaced land surfaces formed on the interior of said hollow body and having portions parallel with said cylindrical wall and portions slanted inwardly tangentially toward said emission orifice, said lands defining a plurality of grooves for the flow of the fluid over said floor in a swirling pattern, a thimble body having a generally cylindrical side wall slidably received adjacent said parallel land surface portions and maintained thereby spaced from said hollow body side wall, said thimble body having an end wall formed with slanted surfaces substantially matching said slanted land portions and a dome-shaped wall portion directed away from said hollow body floor to form with said floor a fluid swirl chamber adjacent said emission orifice, an annular lip on said thimble body seated within said open end of said hollow body, means on said open end of said hollow body retaining said thimble body within said hollow body against the pressure of the fluid, and fluid supply means on said hollow body opening through said side wall into the space between said hollow body and thimble body.
 7. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 3 wherein said thimble transverse wall is conically shaped with its conic wall directed away from said emission orifice at an angle of from 20* to 25*.
 8. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 6 wherein said means retainiNg said thimble body in said hollow body consists of lugs on the exterior of said hollow body and cap means removably engaged with said lugs, said cap means having an axially directed rib projecting into said hollow body to engage on said thimble body adjacent said annular lip.
 9. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 6 wherein said fluid supply means consists of a tubular portion on said outer hollow body having an interior wall formed with at least one circumferential bead extending radially inwardly, and a fluid conducting means pressed into said tubular portion passed said circumferential bead.
 10. The fluid discharge nozzle set forth in claim 6 wherein said thimble dome-shaped wall is provided with fin means to disturb the fluid swirl and cause issue of a full body of spray. 